All-State trio

Warren volleyball’s Latimer, Chase and Nyquist recognized among Pennsylvania’s best

Andy Close

Sports Editor

aclose@timesobserver.com

Lydia Latimer

A Warren volleyball season that no doubt will go down as one of the best in Warren County’s history continued to reap the benefits with more individual honors.

In this case, the most prestigious individual recognition a player can receive – All-State, was bestowed upon a trio of Dragons – senior middle hitter Lydia Latimer, senior outside hitter Celia Chase and junior setter Lex Nyquist.

The three received All-State honors in Class 3A by the Pennsylvania Volleyball Coaches Association, a worthy honor, as they helped lead their team to a PIAA Class 3A runner-up finish.

The selection is the third in the tremendous high school career of Latimer, who will continue her academic and volleyball career in 2019 at Cleveland State. For Chase and Nyquist, it’s their first selection each, which goes along with their All-State recognition in softball.

Latimer, quite simply, has been dominant in her Dragon volleyball career. This season, she shattered the single-season program record for kills in a season with 428, and finishes her illustrious high school tenure with 991, also a program best.

Celia Chase

Her jaw-dropping kills became a thing of legend, and she also racked up 91 blocks (a stat in which she also holds the program career mark), 306 digs and 66 aces, on her way to becoming the most decorated volleyball player in Warren Area High School history.

“I’d like to congratulate Lex, Celia, and Lydia for their inclusions on the Pennsylvania All-State teams; it’s a great honor and a tribute to them and all their teammates. Each one elevates the others and continues to set a standard for the players and the program going forward,” said Warren head coach Mike Dolan.

“It’s very thrilling to have three Dragon players making this team. Knowing the talent these girls had shown last season and then seeing the way they worked all year long, it’s no surprise they achieved the level of play that they have and it’s very rewarding to see them recognized for it!

“Celia’s recognition is special because although she was not singled-out last year on many All-Star teams, she never lost her confidence or her drive. She believed in the player she was and the teammates she had and more than took it to the next level this season through hard work and dedication.

“For Lex to make the team as a junior is exciting but again not surprising given the many hours she has spent training for this season and the ability she has shown all season not just delivering terrific sets to her teammates, but playing such a stellar all-around game.

Lex Nyquist

“And Lydia’s dedication and love for the game has shown through again big-time this season – for her to make this team for the third time shows what kind of athletic legacy she has left as not only one of the best volleyball players ever at WAHS, but also District 10! Anyone who has seen Lydia play this year can attest to the level of play she has achieved. Very deserving awards for three standout student-athletes and a fantastic honor that can be shared with all of their teammates and the Warren Volleyball team.”

Chase was huge weapon on the outside, racking up 310 kills, giving her 661 for her career, which is third-best in program history. She also had 50 aces, 11 blocks and 247 digs.

She had the match-clinching kill against Thomas Jefferson in the PIAA quarterfinals, and drew significant praise from TJ coach Ron Kelly afterwards.

Quite simply, she had an amazing season and high school volleyball career.

“It means a lot to me that I was picked to be on the All-State team,” she said. “I worked hard this last year and really improved since last season, so it feels really great to be named on this team, but it definitely wouldn’t be the same without my teammates and Mike. It just makes this season feel even more special.”

For Latimer, Chase and the rest of the Dragons’ lethal set of attackers, Nyquist made sure they were always in the best position to succeed. Her passes were always right where they needed to be, as she racked up a program single-season best 1,094 assists and shattered the career mark with still another year to go.

A superb athlete, she also got above the net plenty, racking up 32 blocks, as well as 233 digs and 25 aces.

Her coaches joke that two-thirds of the Earth is covered by water, the other third is covered by her. That’s a tribute to a player who simply was all over the court, often getting to balls that most players in the state wouldn’t even dream of.

“Being on the all-state team is one of the accomplishments that I’ve worked for over the entirety of the season,” she said. “Of course, this was not achieved alone, for my coaches and teammates played a big role in getting me where I am today and I could not be more thankful.”